Sean Haughton

Ahead with

CPE

SKILLS BUILDER
for Writing & Speaking
CONTENTS
The Essay  pg. 5

The Article  pg. 17

The Review  pg. 24

The Report  pg. 29

The Letter  pg. 37

The Speaking Exam  pg. 44

© Aheadbooks
First Edition 2019

www.aheadbooks.com
info@aheadbooks.com

Written by: Sean Haughton

Edited by: Mary Marin & Aheadbooks
Layout: Irene L.
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I.S.B.N.: 978-88-98433-70-4

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 Writing | Part 1

The Writing Exam

The basics ...
Here is what the Writing Paper looks like:
Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
2: Part 1 and Part 2
Number of Parts
(both carry equal marks)

Part Task Write

Question 1
- always essay
- compulsory question
1 - two short texts (~100 words each) of input material 240-280 words
- discursive question - you must discuss key points and expand
on the input material, giving your own examples, ideas and
opinions
Write an answer to one question only in Part 2.
Questions 2-4
- 3 of the following 4 question types:
• article
• letter
• report
2 • review 280-320 words
- ~70 words of input material
Question 5
- 5a based on one named set text
- 5b based on the other
- possible question types as for Qs 2-4, and also:
• essay

1 Look at the table and answer these questions about the Writing paper.

1. How many parts are there?

2. How long do you have to finish the paper in total (in minutes)?
3. Which part is worth the most marks?
4. How many answers do you have to write in total?

5. What is the maximum number of words you can write for each answer?

6. What is the minimum number of words you can write for each answer?

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 Writing | Part 1

7. What question type always appears in Part 1?

8. How many questions must you do in Part 2?
9. What question types can appear in questions 2-4?
10. What question types can appear in questions 5a and 5b?
11. If you haven’t studied a set text, how many different questions can you choose from in Part 2?

12. And if you have studied the set text, how many then?
13. In which part, Part 1 or Part 2, do you think you need to use more of your own ideas, and why?

14. In which part, Part 1 or Part 2, will it be very important to be able to paraphrase (put in your own
words) the input material, and why?

15. Imagine you are writing a handbook for the Proficiency exam. Summarise the format of the Writing
paper in your own words in a few short paragraphs in your exercise book.

15. This question serves as a nice simple introduction to summarising key information, without explicitly
being introduced as such a question type. Later tasks will break down input material to key points just
like here, so it is good practice in that regard to have students bring it back together into composition
form. Besides, it will also help them to absorb the information contained in the table and become very
familiar with the format of the Writing paper. The sample answer for Q15 should be available to stu-
dents online or in the answer key at the back of the book, should there be one.

The Writing paper lasts ninety minutes in total. There are two parts to the paper: Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1
contains one compulsory question, Question 1. You must, in other words, do this question. Part 2 contains
five questions (Question 2, Question 3, Question 4, Question 5a and Question 5b), and you must choose and
answer one of them. Therefore, you must write two answers in total. Both parts, Part 1 and Part 2 (and so both
answers), carry equal marks.

Let’s look at Part 1 more closely. Question 1 is always an essay. There will be two texts of input material, each
of around 100 words. You must discuss and expand on the key ideas from the input texts, using your own
examples, ideas and opinions. Write approximately 240-280 words for your answer. Avoid copying the input
material word-for-word in your answer. Paraphrase and use your own words as much as possible.
Now, let’s look at Part 2. Remember you only answer one of the five questions. Questions 2-4 will always be
three of the following four question types: article, report, letter, review. Question 5a will relate to one of the two
set texts. Question 5b will relate to the other. Question 5a and Question 5b can be the following question types:
article, essay, letter, report, review. Don’t attempt either of these questions unless you have studied a set text.
Questions in Part 2 have less input material - around 70 words. Therefore, you will have to use more of your
own ideas in your answer, but make sure you cover all parts of the input material; in other words, answer the
question asked fully. Write about 280-320 words for your answer.

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 Writing | Part 1

The Essay
Step 1: Analysing the question and input material

A Save time! Before you enter the exam room, you should already be familiar with the format of the paper. Therefore,
you don’t need to read these lines on exam day because they tell you what you already know: (1) the compulsory question
is an essay; (2) you have to summarise and evaluate the key points in your own words within the 240-280 word limit.

Read the two texts below. Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use
B Quickly read your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.
the text titles Write your answer in 240-280 words.
before you begin
1
careful reading Big brother is watching us a
These days, it seems that Big Brother is always watching us. There are CCTV cameras monitor-
of the two texts. ing our every move in public places. Even on private land there is no escape, with recording de-
This will help vices often placed in entranceways to homes and businesses, too. Public officials and the police C Highlight/
you predict the say such monitoring devices help deter crime and detect criminals, but does the end justify the
means, or have we sacrificed too much of our privacy? What’s more, since our every move is underline key
subject and recorded, should we be worried about who controls and has access to this information? Can we information in
stimulate your trust our public officials to protect us from the dangers of its misuse?
each text as you
background read it carefully.
The online cookie that won’t crumble b
knowledge of Browser cookies are a bit like CCTV; they follow us around everywhere we go in the virtual
relevant ideas world, often whether we like it or not, collecting information on everything from our daily surf-
and vocabulary. ing habits to our likes and dislikes to our musical interests, and so on. Our browsing habits can,
after all, reveal a huge amount of information about who we are as people, so is it really OK for
companies to store this information - presumably somewhere in ‘the cloud’? More importantly,
is it fair and is it safe? I think we ought to be more concerned about these cookies that follow us
in the virtual world than the cameras that track us in the real one.

Write your essay.

D It may help to write a topic
sentence for each text in your
own words. Here, for example:
(a) Do the benefits of using CCTV
cameras for crime prevention and
detection outweigh the dangers to
personal privacy?
And (b) Are internet cookies even
more of a danger to our personal
privacy than CCTV cameras?
F Don’t forget! It’s an essay - E Then, quickly make bulleted notes
it’s always an essay in Question of the key information from each text
1. That means you will need to to include in your essay. For example:
write using a formal register (a) CCTV:
(e.g. is not not isn’t, etc.). - cameras everywhere
- deter/detect crime?
- sacrifice too much privacy?
Exam Tip! - trust?/danger of misuse?
Remember! Watch your word
count. Be familiar with what (b) Cookies:
about 280 words in your - collect a lot of info
handwriting looks like before - reveal massive amount about
the exam. private life
- fair and safe to store such info?
Use any spare time at the
- more of a threat than CCTV to privacy
end to read your essay for
error correction (grammar,
spelling, etc.).

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 Writing | Part 1

1a Now, you try! Cover the previous page, then read the question again and identify the key points. Highlight
or underline them.
Read the two texts below. Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use
your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.
Write your answer in 240-280 words.

1
Big brother is watching us
These days, it seems that Big Brother is always watching us. There are CCTV cameras monitor-
ing our every move in public places. Even on private land there is no escape, with recording de-
vices often placed in entranceways to homes and businesses, too. Public officials and the police
say such monitoring devices help deter crime and detect criminals, but does the end justify the
means, or have we sacrificed too much of our privacy? What’s more, since our every move is
recorded, should we be worried about who controls and has access to this information? Can we
trust our public officials to protect us from the dangers of its misuse?

The online cookie that won’t crumble

Browser cookies are a bit like CCTV; they follow us around everywhere we go in the virtual world,
often whether we like it or not, collecting information on everything from our daily surfing habits
to our likes and dislikes to our musical interests, and so on. Our browsing habits can, after all,
reveal a huge amount of information about who we are as people, so is it really OK for compa-
nies to store this information - presumably somewhere in ‘the cloud’? More importantly, is it fair
and is it safe? I think we ought to be more concerned about these cookies that follow us in the
virtual world than the cameras that track us in the real one.

Write your essay.

1b Next, write a topic sentence for each text:

a.

b.

1c Finally, make bullet-point notes of the key information from each text:

a. CCTV b. Cookies

1d Now uncover the previous page and compare your notes with the notes there. Don’t worry if they are not
exactly the same as long as the ideas and points are similar.

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 Writing | Part 1

Step 2: Planning your answer

Before we work on the structure of your essay, let’s practise paraphrasing. Remember, in Question 1, there is a
lot of useful input material. You may wish to reuse this in your essay, but you should use your own words where
possible to express the ideas and information.

Paraphrasing 1
One of the easiest ways to paraphrase is to use synonyms (similar-meaning words) and antonyms (opposite-
meaning words).

1a These sentences are taken from Text (a). Replace the words in brackets () with synonyms from the box.

equipment nowadays property seems watching workplaces

1. (These days) it... that Big Brother is always (monitoring) us.

2. E
 ven on private (land) there is no escape, with recording (devices)
often placed in entranceways to homes and (businesses) , too.

1b Now, for further practice, complete this paragraph in the same way. Replace the words in brackets ()
with synonyms from the box. In the case of verbs, you will need to change the verb into the correct form
(e.g. seem ➜ seems).

browse comfort concept intrusion only pursue routine

seemingly track vanish

Privacy is, (1) apparently , nowadays both a word and a(n) (2) idea which
is (3) disappearing fast from our vocabulary. Not (4) alone are we (5) fol-
lowed as we go about our day-to-day (6) lives by cameras on every street
corner, and so on, but even as we (7) surf the net in the (8) cosiness of
our own home we are not safe. Cookies (9) follow our every movement online. Is this level
of (10) interference into our lives really necessary?

2 These sentences are taken from Text (b). In the examples, we use antonyms to paraphrase them simply.

Examples:
Browser cookies are a bit like CCTV. (unlike)
Browser cookies are not unlike CCTV.
I think we ought to be more concerned about these cookies … than the cameras that track us. (less)
I think we ought to be less concerned about the cameras that track us than these cookies …

The sentences below form a paragraph. Read each one and try to paraphrase it using the cue word(s) in
brackets (). The first one is done, as in the examples
1. Well, perhaps CCTV cameras are a good place to start. (bad)
Well, perhaps CCTV cameras are not a bad place to start.

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 Writing | Part 1

2. It was not a short process, but I think members of the public have finally come to accept the role they
play in our lives. (long)

3. The evidence, after all, suggests that they do help reduce the rate of crime. (prevent, rising)

4. What is more, CCTV cameras improve conviction rates. (without, worsen)

5. For these reasons alone, I think their continued use in public places is justified. (stopping, unjustifiable)

3 Now let’s take it a step further and use word transformations rather than just synonyms and antonyms.

This example sentence is taken from Text (a).

Public officials and the police say such monitoring devices help deter crime and detect criminals. (deter-
rence)
Public officials and the police say such monitoring devices help in the deterrence of
crime and the detection of criminals.

3a Complete the sentences using the cue word(s) given, as in the example.

1. Now, let us examine the justification for using internet cookies. (justified)

2. Y
 ou would be mistaken to think that companies using cookies provide any form of public service. (a
mistake)

3. Instead, they are simply collecting information for marketing and sales purposes. (involved, collection)

4. In other words, they want to boost their profits. (boosted)

5. T he more these companies know about your browsing history, the easier it is for them to predict what
you may be interested in. (prediction)

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 Writing | Part 1

3b Using passive forms is another effective way to paraphrase. Complete the second sentence so that it means
the same as the first sentence, using a passive form.

1. W
 hat is more, the data these internet companies collect could be very dangerous if it fell into the
wrong hands.
What is more, the data that is

2. C
 riminals could learn all kinds of things about us from our browsing history, such as whether or not we
have a family or live alone; our income bracket; and so on.
All kinds of things about us

They could even blackmail us by threatening to release sensitive information into the public domain.
We could

4 We will do more on paraphrasing later in the workbook. For now, let’s complete a model answer for the
question.

4a Put the sentences below in order to complete a paragraph of the model.

For this reason, I firmly believe cookies are an unacceptable intrusion into our privacy. /
In other words, they do perform a public service. /
I think, therefore, without question, we ought to be far more concerned with internet cookies and the threat
they pose to our privacy than CCTV cameras. /
On the other hand, the former only benefit big profit-making companies by improving the effectiveness of
their advertising. /
After all, the latter actually help to protect us by deterring and preventing crime.

4b There are five paragraphs in the model answer.

Here is where the paragraphs can be found.

1. The answer to Question 4a
2. The answer to Question 3b
3. The answer to Question 3a.
4. The answer to Question 2.
5. The answer to Question 1b.

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 Writing | Part 1

Write the model answer out in full below. Make sure you put the paragraphs in the correct order.
P1:

P2:

P3:

P4:

P5:

Now check your answer to make sure it is correct. We will use it in the planning section.

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 Writing | Part 1

Paragraph Planning
Paragraph planning is essential to make sure you cover the key points from the input material in a clearly struc-
tured and logical way. Here is the paragraph plan for the model answer you wrote out in 4b.

5a Refer to the model answer and number the paragraphs in the correct order (from 1-5).
Paragraph CCTV cameras
• In favour
• Why?
• Crime rate falling
• More criminals caught
• Safer
Paragraph introduce topic in own words
ask a question
Paragraph Summarise views
• against cookies because …
• in favour of CCTV because …
Paragraph Dangers of cookie info
• criminals find out private info
• family status
• income status, etc.
• threat of blackmail
Paragraph Internet cookies
• not same reason as CCTV
• marketing and sales revenue
• more profit
• helps them predict your interests

Notice how Paragraph 1 always introduces the topic in your own words and the final paragraph always sum-
marises what you have said.

5b Now it’s time for you to make a plan for your essay.

(i) First, you must decide if you are for, against or neutral when it comes to CCTV usage and Internet Cook-
ies. This will help to guide your paragraph plan.
(ii) Next, you must decide how many main body paragraphs to use. In general, make one key point per
paragraph. Use the rest of the paragraph to support your point and give examples. (Remember the key
information from the input material must be discussed.)
In the model answer, the key points were as follows:
P2: CCTV cameras are good because they provide a public service.
P3: Internet cookies are bad because they do not provide a similar service.
P4: Internet cookies collect information that is very dangerous in the wrong hands.
The rest of the information in each paragraph was supporting points and examples.

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 Writing | Part 1

Write your main body paragraph plan below (use as many paragraphs as you think is necessary to cover the
key points from the input material, usually between two and four):
Paragraph 2
Key point
Supporting points and examples

Paragraph 3
Key point
Supporting points and examples

Paragraph 4
Key point
Supporting points and examples

Paragraph 5
Key point
Supporting points and examples

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 Writing | Part 1

Step 3: Linking it all together

Now that you have your paragraph plan, you are almost ready to write your essay. What you have to do next is
link your ideas together. First, let’s have a look at some different linking words and their functions.

Linkers 1
1a Match the functions (A-H) to the groups of linkers (1-8) in the table.

A Giving opinions E Giving supporting information

B Giving reasons F Contrasting

C Sequencing G Giving results

D Giving examples H Summing up

1 2 3 4
Firstly, … Additionally, … On one hand, … . On the For instance, …
Secondly, … Furthermore, … other hand, … For example, …
Thirdly, … What is more, … However, … … ; namely, …
Lastly, … In addition, … Nonetheless, … … , such as …
Not only … , but also … Nevertheless, … … , like …
First of all, … Despite this, …
Second of all, … In spite of this, …
Last of all, … … , whereas …
… , while …
Last but not least, … … , but …
In contrast, …
5 6 7 8
Therefore, … … due to (the fact that) … In my view, … In short, …
As a result, … … since/as/because … As far as I am concerned, In conclusion, …
As a consequence, … ... on account of … … In summary, …
Consequently, … … because of … From my perspective, … To summarise, …
To conclude, …

1b Below is another model answer for the question. Complete the answer with the linkers in the box.

as far as I am concerned   besides   consequently   contrarily   contrariwise   for instance

in other words   on one hand   on the other   so   therefore   to conclude   what is more   while

(1) it is true that we each have a right to certain privacies, there is the
concept of the greater good. (2) , sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice
our personal rights for the wider benefit of society as a whole. Are CCTV cameras and internet cookies
cases in point? Well, that is indeed the question.
(3) , if CCTV footage fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be
dire. (4) , if we cannot trust the government with protecting our privacy,

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 Writing | Part 1

who can we trust? (5) , CCTV monitoring definitely acts as an effective

crime deterrent and also aids in identifying the perpetrators of crimes. (6) ,
I believe its use to be justified for the greater good.
(7) , internet cookies are something else entirely. (8)
, how does society as a whole benefit from my online shopping habits being recorded? It
does not. Only advertising and marketing companies benefit and boost their profits through more targeted
online advertising. This is not for the greater good.
(9) , are we willing to trust these companies to keep the data they col-
lect about us safe? (10) , there have been too many instances of cus-
tomer data being leaked and hackers gaining access to sensitive data for that to ever be the case.
(11) , I am strongly against the use of internet cookies.
(12) , I am of the firm belief that CCTV monitoring serves the greater good
and its use is, therefore, justified. (13) , I feel that internet cookies only
help big corporations to boost their profits, (14) I am firmly against their
continued use.

1c Two of the new linkers used in 1b mean in contrast.

Which two? . Add them to your table in 1a.

1d One of the new linkers in 1b is used to explain what was already said more simply.
Which one? .

Here are more examples of such simplification linkers:

To put it another way, …
Put simply, …
To put it simply, …

2 Now write your essay based on your plan. Remember to use linkers to bring your ideas together.

3 When you have written your essay, there’s one more thing you need to do: check it for errors. Try to always
leave a few minutes at the end to check for grammar and spelling mistakes.

3a Before you correct your essay, look at the model answer below. Correct the grammar mistakes in italics in
the space provided.

If only we (1) can return to a time (2) which our pri-

vacy was truly respected, not the present situation where our every move in the real world (3) watched
by cameras and in the virtual world it (4) tracked by
cookies. On the other hand, perhaps we ought (5) be careful what we wish for.
It is true: we (6) are closely monitored in our streets and public places for a
very long time now. It is also true (7) which this monitoring can be intrusive.
However, seldom (8) is there a more difficult time for criminals than the pre-
sent. After all, there are cameras everywhere (9) catching them in the act of
perpetrating a crime, should they dare. In short, (10) giving that it acts both
as an excellent crime deterrent and detector, the benefits of the careful use of CCTV (11) outweighed
the drawbacks.

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 Writing | Part 1

Moving next to cookies; it seems like internet cookies (12) are using more
and more every day. If you (13) have not asked for permission to use cookies
umpteen times within the first five minutes of your browsing session, there must be something wrong
(14) of your connection. Cookies are, put simply, everywhere. But why? Does
(15) to have them there benefit browsers themselves, or perhaps the greater
good?
The short answer is no. Cookies (16) used for profiteering purposes by market-
ing and advertising firms alone. (17) To keep sensitive data of this kind should
not be a part of their remit, however. What would happen if the data on our personal browsing activity
(18) stole or fell into the wrong hands?
In short, CCTV (19) has proven to prevent crime and help detect crimi-
nals; therefore, its continued use is justified for the greater good. On the other hand, (20) never
has been an easier argument to counter than the suggestion cookies,
(21) that are a bit like CCTV cameras of the virtual world, benefit anyone other than
profit-hungry web companies. For that reason, I am strongly against (22) there
continued use.

3b Now have a go at error-correcting your own essay and try to follow these steps each time you do Question
1 of the Writing Paper from now on.

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 Writing | Part 1

Essay Review
Here are the basic steps for tackling Question 1. Remember to keep an eye on your timings in the exam. Allow
yourself about five minutes to plan at the start and a couple of minutes to check for errors at the end.

Step 1 Read the text titles

Step 2 Carefully read each text, highlighting key info

Step 3 Plan your essay

• assign one key point to each main-body paragraph
• support your points, by developing and giving examples

Step 4 Write your essay

Step 5 Check for errors

Let’s take a look at one more model answer for the question.

We are constantly monitored both in the virtual and real world today, and this gives
Make one key point a great many of us cause for concern. Are we right to be worried and is this level of Remember: in
close scrutiny even justified?
in each paragraph, Personally, I would question the effectiveness of CCTV cameras in deterring or pre-
Paragraph 1,
then develop your venting crime. After all, most criminals wear masks and disguises. For the same introduce the topic
reasons, their usefulness in crime detection is questionable, too. Having said that,
point and support it film footage does sometimes prove useful if police can track a criminal’s move-
in your own words. It
with examples. Here, ments far enough back until they have let their guard down and perhaps removed can be useful to ask a
their disguise. On the whole, though, I think CCTV cameras are not effective enough
the key point is CCTV to justify their continued use and this continued intrusion into our privacy as we go
question (one which
cameras don’t deter or about our daily lives. you go on to answer in
prevent crime so their At least most CCTV camera footage is controlled by the authorities, though. The the main body).
same cannot be said for the data collected by cookies. After all, cookies are used
use is unjustifiable. by large profit-making corporations to get information on our browsing history, like
The writer uses the where we shop online and what types of holidays we are interested in. In my view,
there is no justification for allowing companies to store such sensitive information Remember:
rest of the paragraph for the sole purpose of improving their marketing and sales strategies. What is
connect your ideas
to explain this point. more, it could fall into the hands of criminals, should the companies be hacked, for
instance. using a range of
For the reasons outlined above, I am of the firm belief that the continued use of linkers (connecting
both CCTV cameras and internet cookies is unjustifiable. CCTV cameras are simply
Remember: cover all too intrusive and not effective enough at crime deterrence and prevention, while expressions), like the
the key points from internet cookies do not serve the greater good in any sense and are simply used by ones here in italics.
companies to help them generate more revenue.
the input material.
You must talk about
Summarise what you
internet cookies as Exam Tip!
have said in the last
well as CCTV. Remember! Plan your essay for about five minutes paragraph and restate
before you start writing. your opinion clearly.
Check for errors for a couple of minutes at the end.

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